Updated September 29, 2025 by Samantha

Many think financial planners just push insurance, but in reality, they guide clients with professionalism and trust — helping improve cash flow, plan retirement, and reach goals, while growing personally and professionally.

Redefining the Role of an Insurance Professional

Many people assume that the title “insurance agent” sounds unappealing — often associated with being pushy, sales-driven, or materialistic.
However, this perception is far from the truth.

The insurance industry today values individuals who are responsible, ethical, and professional. It’s a noble career that requires integrity, empathy, and accountability.

Recently, the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has introduced stricter entry requirements for aspiring agents. Before joining the industry, individuals must now undergo employment and credit background checks to ensure credibility.

In the past, many joined part-time. But today, agents are required to meet minimum performance standards (KPIs), maintain a clean compliance record, and attend continuous professional development (CPD) training to enhance their knowledge and uphold professionalism.

Building Self-Confidence and Personal Growth

Many people believe that entering the insurance business means constantly selling or pushing products to friends and relatives — and that you must memorize every product detail.

Young people often tell me, “I don’t know how to approach strangers, and I don’t want to sell to my friends.”

At FTA Wealth Solutions, we understand this concern. That’s why our sales process begins with a Financial Fitness Test (FFT) — a simple assessment that helps clients understand their financial awareness and current position.

Through this process, new agents naturally develop soft skills such as:

- Active listening

- Analytical thinking

- Asking the right questions

- Problem-solving and empathy

As they gain confidence, they also learn how to analyze clients’ financial issues, offer practical advice, and help them improve cash flow or manage debt.

This builds trust and long-term relationships, shifting the focus from selling products to providing real value.

Why Financial Awareness Matters

One of the biggest challenges in Malaysia today is retirement readiness.
Research shows that only 38% of Malaysians are financially prepared for retirement, with many starting to plan only in their 40s — often relying solely on EPF.

Through FFT, we’ve discovered a common mindset:

“It’s too early to think about retirement. I still have time.”

In reality, the best time to plan for retirement is during your active working years.
Most people delay because they’re uncertain about when they want to retire or how much they’ll need.

At FTA, the Financial Fitness Test helps answer these questions — providing clarity, guidance, and practical steps for better financial planning.

For new agents, FFT also helps reduce common rejections like:

“I don’t need it,” “I’ll think about it,” or “I don’t have money right now.”

Connecting with the Younger Generation

FTA focuses on reaching both offline and online audiences, especially Gen Z and millennials.
The younger generation is more digitally connected, and we see huge opportunities to engage and educate them about financial literacy through online platforms faster and more effectively than ever.

Career Advancement and Leadership

With over 20 years in the industry, I can confidently say that my personal development and growth have far exceeded my peers in other professions.

Throughout this journey, I’ve developed key soft skills, built leadership qualities, and expanded my network by meeting people from various industries and backgrounds.

Over time, clients become friends — and friends become clients.

To be a successful insurance professional, one must gain broad financial knowledge — including topics like health, critical illnesses, will writing, housing loans, taxation, EPF, and unit trust.

Here’s a tip:

Think of yourself as a CPU — always learning, listening, and asking the right questions. Every client conversation adds new “data” to your understanding, helping you align faster with others in the future.

Beyond Sales: Building Future Leaders

Many people think becoming an insurance agent is simply about selling for life. That’s a misconception.

At FTA Wealth Solutions, our business model is built around leadership and personal growth. We don’t just train agents — we develop future leaders.

With our structured system, anyone can grow, scale their manpower, and strengthen company branding by following proven methods.

However, some mistakenly believe that leadership means enjoying passive income while the team does all the work.
This is the wrong mindset.

True leaders must:

- Continuously upskill themselves

- Focus on coaching, mentoring, and developing others

- Lead by example and help others succeed

At FTA, we help our team understand the true meaning of passive income — not from doing nothing, but by building a sustainable business system that empowers others to thrive.

Whether you want to safeguard your family, expand your wealth, or explore new career paths, FTA is here to guide you every step of the way.

FTA Wealth Solutions is a one-stop financial consultancy in Malaysia, offering holistic services from financial planning and nomination to will writing. As an approved HRDF Corp (Human Resource Development Fund) training provider, we also deliver structured financial literacy and professional development programmes. With over 20 years of industry experience and partnerships with leading providers, we help Malaysians protect, grow, and secure their wealth with clarity and confidence.

Contact

5-1-3, Jalan 2/109F,
Danau Business Centre, Taman Danau Desa,
58100 Kuala Lumpur

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